Podcasts about 2 Corinthians 5

Weekly Sunday sermons from Pastor Mike Powers and other members of our Pastoral Body. Richland Creek Community Church gathers to glorify God in worship, grow as disciples of Jesus, and go on mission with the gospel. For more, visit richlandcreek.com.Main Idea: Jesus Christ saves us and immediately entrusts us to carry the gospel to a lost world.1. Christ graciously reconciles us to Himself.2. Christ immediately empowers us to ministry.

Scripture References: Ephesians 5, 2 Corinthians 5:19-21, 1 Corinthians 6:15-20, 1 Corinthians 7:1-40, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, Revelation 19:6-9, Revelation 21:1-4Intro:Reflection on the previous sermon (Easter).The significance of the concepts of covenant and contract.Marriage used as an illustration of covenant.Key Points:Contract vs. Covenant:Contract: Exchange of goods and services, conditional obligations.Covenant: Giving of oneself, unconditional commitment.Marriage vows as a prime example of covenant.The Church as a Covenant Relationship:Ephesians 5: Christ's love for the church is a covenantal relationship.Christ gave Himself for the church, not just His word.We are called to respond with the same kind of self-giving love.God's Covenant with Us:God's commitment is unwavering, regardless of our failures.He has purchased us with His blood and continues to work for our holiness.We are not our own; we belong to Him (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).The Marriage Metaphor:Marriage is a picture of the covenant relationship between Christ and the church.This relationship is eternal, unlike earthly marriage (Revelation 21:1-4).Reconciliation and Unity:2 Corinthians 5:19-21: God's work of reconciling the world to Himself through Christ.The cross breaks down barriers and creates unity (Ephesians 2:14-16).We are called to be ambassadors of reconciliation.The Marriage Supper of the Lamb:Revelation 19:6-9: The ultimate celebration of the covenant between Christ and the church.This event is the culmination of God's plan for humanity.Conclusion:The Christian life is defined by a covenantal relationship with God, not a contract.This covenant is marked by His unwavering love, sacrifice, and commitment to us.We are called to respond with the same kind of love and commitment to Him and to one another.Call to Action:Reflect on your own understanding of your relationship with God.Embrace the covenantal nature of your relationship with Christ.Live a life of love and sacrifice, following His example.Participate in the work of reconciliation, bringing unity to a broken world.Look forward to the ultimate fulfillment of God's covenant in the marriage supper of the Lamb. Support the show*Summaries and transcripts are generated using AI. Please notify us if you find any errors.

Program for 04/24/2025 SAS Chapel: 2 Corinthians 5:11-7:1

2 Corinthians 5:14-21 | Good Friday Changed the World - The first Good Friday changed the world, and everyone's lives will be affected by it into eternityMessage by Anthony Webb, Pastor Ariah Park Baptist Church

Program for 04/23/2025 SAS Chapel: 2 Corinthians 5:1-10

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."2 Corinthians 5:17, ESVPastor Dave delivers his Easter message and closes out our resilience series out of 2 Corinthians chapter 5April 20, 2025

The second book of Corinthians was written by the apostle Paul to the church in Corinth, Paul continues to address leadership in the church, and gives us lessons and topics that help us to examine our own motives for serving God. Whether it is the lessons about sharing the burdens of others, the sacrifices we must make, or the doctrinal points that Paul gives, this letter of 2 Corinthians is sure to equip you in your ministry and walk with God.  Join Jerry as he walks through this book and gives insight along the way about how you can apply it in your every day life. You can also take your daily Bible reading to another level with The New Testament Daily with Jerry Dirmann—so grab your Bible and let's get started!  -------  Thank you for joining us today! For more resources like this, or to support the ministry of Solid Lives, visit one of the links below:   « FREE MEDIA LIBRARY » To listen to or download more teachings from Jerry and others from Solid Lives ministries, visit our new media library at: https://app.jesusdisciple.com/jesus-way/media-library « THE NEW TESTAMENT DAILY PODCAST » https://thenewtestamentdailywithjerrydirmann.buzzsprout.com « SOLID LIVES » Find out more about the ministries of Jerry Dirmann and Solid Lives at https://www.solidlives.com/  « SUPPORT » You can help us get free resources like this out to more people. Visit https://pushpay.com/g/jdglobal Thank you for joining us today! For more resources like this, or to support the ministry of Solid Lives, visit one of the links below: FREE MEDIA LIBRARY » Download or listen at https://SolidLivesMedia.com/ ABOUT SOLID LIVES » Find out more at https://www.solidlives.com/ SUPPORT » Help us get the word out at https://solidlives.com/give/

2 Corinthians 5:17

Our mission is to engage the whole person with the whole gospel of Jesus Christ anywhere, anytime, with anybody.To give to the ministry at The Church at Station Hill, click here: https://www.stationhillchurch.com/stewardship/.STAY CONNECTEDWebsite: https://www.stationhillchurch.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/stationhillchurchInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/stationhillchurch#church #sermon #bible #tennessee #nashville #love #thechurchatstationhill #jesus

Easter 2025

Pastor Myron shares from 2 Corinthians 5:21; a special Good Friday sermon. If you need support or encouragement, or would like to learn more about how to begin a relationship with Jesus, please reach out to the church or email help@hhachurch.com.

Sermon Notes: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rz3ScZSXBx6vec8-En_hCJPKvxj0HnQ0/view?usp=drive_linkSubscribe to our channel:https://www.youtube.com/shepherdshouseazWebsite: shepherdsaz.orgInstagram: @shepherdshouseazFacebook: /shepherdshouseazTiktok: @shepherdshouseazYoutube: /shepherdshouseaz

Jesus Ministries, Joan Boney  ...   2 Corinthians 5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.  

Rev. Cyril A. Stevens – Sermon 0924A recorded on August 12, 1984 teaching from 2 Corinthians 5:9 – Our Ambition to Please God. Pastor Cyril A. Stevens revolves around the idea that a believer’s primary goal should be to please God, contrasting this with the common tendency to seek the approval of others. Stevens argues that…

Professor Mark Weis

This month's theme is “Faith”2 Corinthians 5:7“For we walk by faith, not by sight.”(RSV2CE Translation)***“Memorize Scripture” Book NOW AVAILABLE!Get 10% off!Link to Order:https://avemariapress.com/?ref=JACKIE10PROMO CODE: JACKIE10****PATREON: For downloadable and printable PDFs of each scripture verse, support us on Patreon at Patreon.com/JackieandBobby at the $5/month level!

Pastor Seth Wetter Teaches us, Your Life is Not Your Own. The Constraining Love Of Jesus Christ. In the Fifth Chapter of 2 Corinthians. On April 13, 2025. God's Word is Truth!

2 Corinthians 5 (NIV)

2 Corinthians 5:21

Calvary Chapel McKinney Pastor James Marini continues a midweek Bible study series through 2 Corinthians. This week's verse by verse study is 2 Corinthians 5. From Wednesday, April 9th, 2025.2 Corinthians 5 Take Aways1. As Paul lived his life looking forward to a resurrection in eternity with assurance, we too should be heavenly minded, knowing that our hope will be fulfilled in eternity as we trust in the completed work of Christ—“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.” Philippians 3:20-212. As Paul explained and Jesus affirmed, a rewards judgment lies ahead for all men, which in turn should motivate us to live with a heart and mind that is set on pleasing the Lord Jesus—Hebrews 12:28 “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear."3. Since Christ died to bring reconciliation between God and humanity, we are to be zealous ambassadors who live to preach the Gospel of reconciliation to all men—“Christ gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.” Titus 2:13 

Pastor Seth Wetter Teaches Us, Your Life is Not Your Own. The Only Christian Life to Live is the Life of Christ in You. From the Book of 2 Corinthians, Chapter 5, Verses 1-12. On April 6, 2025 God's Word is Truth!

“2 Corinthians 5:18-6:2 | The Mission of Reconciliation” from Lakeshore Baptist Church by Pastor David Green. Released: 2025. Genre: Preaching. The post 2 Corinthians 5:18-6:2 | The Mission of Reconciliation appeared first on Lakeshore Baptist Church.

Rooting Your Identity In Christ - 2 Corinthians 5:14-21, Pastor Jamie Strickland

In this episode, Jesse Orloff helps us take a closer look at Koine Greek and grow in our love of and appreciation for the language. This is stuff you don't want to miss! Join us for this episode where Jesse talks about and reads 2 Corinthians 5 in Koine Greek. Tune in to learn more!***GlossaHouse resources are available at our website! - https://glossahouse.com/✏️ ***Sign up for classes with GlossaHouse U - https://glossahouse.com/pages/classes

Sermon Notes Date: 03/30/2025 Preacher: David Teves, deacon Key Text: 2 Corinthians 5:10-15 Description: Our lives matter and have eternal consequences. Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Deacon David Teves takes us to 2 Corinthians where we see Paul reminding believers of the coming judgement of Christ — and is therefore motivated to persuade others to […]

Reconciliation is the healing or repairing of something broken, fractured, or misaligned, especially a relationship. Reconciliation can give us hope, it can bring newness, and it can be an incredible source of imagination. Listen in this Sunday to hear how a force that is reconciled may be exactly what we, and the world needs.

Living as New Creations in and through Christ (2 Corinthians 5:11-17) Please turn to 2 Corinthians 5:11-17 in your Bibles. That can be found on page 1147 of the pew Bible. In these verses, the apostle Paul transitions from the resurrection hope that Christ gives us in our suffering…. to now focusing in on the heart transformation that we are given in him. The connection between verses 1-10 and 11-17 is the Gospel. It's the death and resurrection of Christ. This good news is both the hope for eternity in suffering and it's the transforming power for godly living. As I read, listen for two things. Listen for a description of Jesus' ministry. And listen for a comparison between the old life and the new life in Christ. Reading of 2 Corinthians 5:11-17 Prayer There are about 18,000 species of butterflies – 18,000 different species. That translates into billions and billions of butterflies around the world today – it's hard to even estimate how many. And this is the time of year when they just start coming out. Kids, maybe you've tried to catch one with a butterfly net. Maybe you've seen a beautiful Monarch… or one of the different kinds of Swallowtails. As you know, they truly are exquisite –different colors like blues and yellows and cool patterns and shimmery reflections. But the thing is, they didn't start that way. No, all butterflies began life as a caterpillar. And some of them are not that appealing. Like the Monarch – it begins life as a worm like caterpillar with pale and dirty looking bands on it. Other caterpillars look like green slugs. One kind of caterpillar apparently looks like bird droppings. Others have spikes or bumpy skin. But then something amazing happens to each one of them. They go through a metamorphosis… a transformation. Literally inside their cocoons, their bodies melt away into a soupy kind of ooze which is then metamorphosed into a beautiful butterfly. When they emerge, they are… new creations, in a way. The old has passed away, behold the new has come. You probably saw that one coming. But the parallel is true. The metamorphosis that a caterpillar goes through in becoming a butterfly is like the metamorphosis that someone goes through in becoming a Christian. The transformation is an internal transformation. Our insides, our hearts, are changed… they're melted and we become and are becoming reflections of God in Christ. Now, the word “transformation” is not used in this passage, but the ideas are all here. In fact, in the Greek, the word transformation is the word “metamorphose”. Like in Romans chapter 12 verse 2. “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds.” Be metamorphosed. Here in 2 Corinthians 5 11-17, Paul, in part, describes the difference between someone who still has their old nature and someone who has been transformed into a new creation in Christ. And as I mentioned earlier, at the center of this transformation is what Jesus has accomplished for you in his death and resurrection. On the sermon notes page, you can see those two lists (the old and the new). We're going to work through those in just a minute. But first, let's begin by looking at two things… Let's begin by (1) considering what it means to be a new creation, and (2) why Paul was writing this section of the letter. It will be helpful to know those things before looking at the old and new contrast. Let's look at the very first verse and the very last verse in our text. Beginning in verse 11. Right in the middle, it says “But what we ARE is known to God.” The word “are” is important. The apostle Paul is referring to their state of being – their identity. God knows if we are still in our old nature or if we are a new creation Now, keep that in mind and jump down to verse 17. It says, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” An important word here is the word “is.” “If anyone IS in Christ, he IS a new creation.” Do you see the connection between 11 and 17? Each of us has a state of being in relation to Christ. We are either “in Christ” or “not in Christ.” And God obviously knows that. To be a new creation in Christ is to believe in and live for Jesus because of what he has done. Verse 15 captures that. It says, “and he [that is, Jesus] died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.” So, to be a new creation in Christ is to… have your old self die with him (your sin, your shame), and to be given a new nature in him, raised with him. A new life.  You become a new creation by faith in Christ, who, as it says “for [your] sake died and was raised.” I wanted to start there because it is that very heart change which is at the center of these verses. The apostle Paul works out what that means for himself and for the Corinthians. So, keep that Gospel emphasis in mind as we consider what being a new creation in Christ looks like. The second important thing to know is the context. Remember, the apostle Paul was dealing with nay-sayers in Corinth. There was a group undermining his ministry. We've come across several things so far about what they were saying and doing. They were saying that because Paul suffered so much he could therefore not be an apostle. Remember that? They also critiqued Paul's change of plans. The irony is that he changed his plans for their sakw. And then, these detractors were, as Paul put it, peddling God's word and also tampering with it. That's not good. And now in these verses, we learn something else about this group. They cared about outward appearances and not about the heart. Look at verse 12. Let me take a moment to unpack this verse. Paul begins by saying, “We are not commending ourselves to you again” Now, earlier in the letter Paul had established his own authenticity as a true minister of the Gospel. He included Timothy and Titus as well. Paul is not doing that again here. He's not “commending ourselves to you again.” Rather, Paul wants them to see the true Gospel transformation in his and his fellow worker's hearts. He uses the word “boast.” He doesn't want them to boast about what's on the outside, but the inside. It's not about outward appearances, like what the false teachers were saying, but rather what is truly in one's heart. Let me read the whole of verse 12 again, and I think you'll hear that context. “We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart.” The whole reason that Paul wrote these verses was to tell the Corinthians to look for that true Gospel transformation in someone. Look for a changed heart and mind worked out in someone's life. That is how you discern a true believer in Christ. That is how you differentiate between a faithful teacher and a false teacher. The old has passed away, the new has come. Ok, I wanted to begin with those two things. (1) that someone who is a new creation in Christ has been transformed by Christ. And (2) Paul was writing to the Corinthians so that they could evaluate whether someone has undergone that transformation. With that said, let's spend the rest of our time seeing how that works out in someone's life – including your life and my life. That brings us back to the two points in the outline. 1. The old has passed away 2. The new has come Now, really, the old and new comparison goes back and forth in these verses. But I thought it would be helpful to first consider what the old nature looks like. And then we can compare that with the new nature in Christ. 1. The old has passed away (5:17) So first, the old. It is incredibly difficult today to not boast about outward appearances. We are constantly bombarded with the message of appearance. Who you know, how you dress, the things you have, what car you drive. Those are all status symbols today. Social media influencers make billions influencing you to buy certain things and to achieve a certain look. You see, our culture is very consumeristic and individualistic. Marketing algorithms target you based on your age and interest. And everything out there is so visual and sensual… and your phone makes the problem worse. It's overwhelming. Now, I'm not saying that the Roman and Greek culture back in the first century didn't have that temptation. It just wasn't as intense. And one of identifying sins of the old self is boasting in outward appearances. That word boast in the Greek is to brag or rejoice in. So, in this case, it's making something that is external part of your identity. In the case of Paul's detractors, that could have been eloquence or wealth or cultural status or even health. Their outward boasting indicated that they had not been transformed into new creations in Christ. So that's one thing, a focus on external things. A second identifying sin is there in verse 15. Those who are new creations in Christ “no longer live for themselves.” You see, our old nature is especially a selfish nature. At the heart of the old self is self. In fact, the heart of all sin is the sin of self-idolatry. It's doing things for your own glory and reputation… and often that happens at the expense of others. Let's go back to those who were undermining the apostles. Their agenda was a self-centered agenda. Once we get to chapters 10 and 11, we will get a clear picture of their self-promotion and how they were using the Corinthians for their own gain. And that certainly happens today. You know this… there are so-called pastors out there today who use their people for their own gain. They are still “living for themselves.” Every single one of us lives for something. And most often, those who still have an old nature, live for themselves. Ok, the third thing mentioned here is in verse 16. Paul writes, “From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh.” That word flesh is used in several different ways throughout the New Testament. Sometimes it's about our sin nature, sometimes it is about our weakness in the body, and sometimes like here, it is about a worldly perspective rather than a godly one. One translation says, “we should regard no one according to a worldly point of view.” That's helpful. Our old nature judges based on the world's philosophy – you know, the latest cultural value system about what's good and bad or right or wrong. Paul even makes that point in verse 16 that he used to regard Christ according to the flesh. Before Paul was transformed into a new creation in Christ, he viewed Jesus as weak. Jesus was just a man to Paul and to the other Pharisees. To them, Jesus' words were blasphemous. And Jesus' actions definitely didn't align with their worldly understanding of power and status. You see, our old self judges according to the flesh and not according to God's perspective. All three of these identifying sin patterns are indicative of the old self. A focus on outward appearance, a self-centered nature, and judging others through the eyes of the world. You see, many in Corinth needed a transformation. They needed a metamorphosis from their old nature to become a new creation in Christ. 2. The new has come (5:17) Some of you attended our Pray for Tucker event last month. Our speaker was Lowell Ivey. Lowell is the director of Metanoia Prison ministry. If you didn't meet Lowell, you definitely met Jeremy Prather – Jeremy has joined us on a couple of occasions. He's also with Metanoia. Jeremy works for Lowell. And just like Jeremy, Lowell spent years in prison. You see, Lowell had been convicted of multiple counts of armed robbery. Before that, he had been a drug dealer while in the military, which led him down that path. The prison he was sent to was intensely segregated… it was self-segregated on racial lines. Prison gangs were based on race, and these gangs would riot. Prisoners were stabbed because of the color of their skin. So Lowell joined a white supremacist gang and found himself deeply hating his non-white fellow inmates. At one point, he somehow acquired a knife and soon thereafter attacked a black inmate. He tried to kill him. Thankfully a guard intervened. However, Lowell was sent to solitary confinement. He spent 10 years in solitary confinement. It's hard to even imagine that. But it was during that time that God changed him. Lowell was scanning the radio channels one night and came across a Christian station. The Gospel was clearly presented… and the Holy Spirit brought a deep conviction of his racism and his need for repentance. Lowell fell on his knees and pleaded with the Lord to change his heart. At that moment he became a new creation in Christ. And he describes the sudden change within. God took away the sin of racism in his heart. No longer did he regard others according to the flesh. The old has passed, the new has come. In fact, he said that the only group in prison who did not segregate by race were the Christians. To be sure, Lowell explained he still had other sin struggles in his life. Over time, God continued to conform him more and more to the image of Christ. But that particular sin was no more. Our new nature in Christ should look vastly different from our old nature. Now, we may not go through as radical a change as Lowell experienced but nonetheless when God changes our heart, he turns us into a new creation. Let me highlight three characteristics of our new nature. The first is back up in verse 11. Fear. Not fear of man, rather fear of the Lord. In verse 10, which we considered last week, we were reminded that we must all sit before the judgment seat of Christ. Well, the truth of God's judgment should drive us to a godly fear of him. That idea is reinforced in what we already considered in verse 11. “What we are is known by God.” Because God knows our heart, we should have a reverent fear of him. That does not mean cowering in front of him, but it does mean recognizing his justice and seeking to worship him in all areas of our lives. Let me put it this way: our new nature should include a reverent and deep recognition of God in his sovereignty and holiness. And that recognition should continue to transform our lives. So that's the first aspect of being a new creation in Christ – a reverent and awe filled fear of the Lord. The second and third aspects are a contrast to the old nature. The false teachers in Corinth boasted about their own outward appearances… and “not,” as it says in verse 12, “about the heart.” We often shy away from talking about ourselves. And that's generally a good thing. Someone who is always talking about themselves and what they have done and who they know is off-putting. It may be an indication that they still have the old nature. However, we should testify to what God is doing in us and in others. I'm not saying all the time. But when we give glory to God for his transforming work in us, we are directing others to the new creation that God has made. You see, that kind of “boasting” is not in ourselves or in outward appearance but it is boasting in God for his Gospel transforming work. And at times we should be passionate about it. I think that is what verse 13 is about. It's a strange verse. It says, “For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.” Being “beside ourselves” means passionately expressing something. You know, animated. John Piper, the well known pastor, comes to mind. He gets very animated because he's so passionate about God's work and his word. One time Piper was waving his hands… and his Apple Watch started calling 911. It thought he had fallen… he was just being very dramatic. Now, we don't know what the apostle Paul was like when he was preaching or teaching. But Festus, one of the Roman governors said to Paul that he “was out of his mind.” Paul had been zealously appealing to Festus that he believe. But we also know that the apostle Paul was very thoughtful and measured at times. He was very rational and composed in much of his writing. So, when he says, “if we are in our right mind, it is for you,” it's likely referring to his thoughtful and calm arguments for Christ. Anyway, what I'm saying is that to be a new creation in Christ, is first of all, to look to God – to fear him. Second, it's to testify and boast about the things of the heart – at times fervently, at other times, in a measured way. And then third, it is living for Christ. Similarly, this is a contrast to the old nature. When we become new creations in Christ, we turn our attention away from self-centeredness to Christ-centeredness. This takes us to verse 14. “For the love of Christ controls us.” God's love for us in Christ compels us. It motivates us. It directs us. It encourages us. God's love for us in Christ transforms us. And then immediately we're given the reason. And the reason is the death and resurrection of Jesus. By the way, let me make a clarifying comment about verse 15. The word “all” means that the atonement of Christ is for all peoples – all tribes, all tongues, all nations. As the apostle Paul has said elsewhere… Jew and Greek, slave and free, male and female. Christ died and was raised for all those categories. And this takes us back to where we started. The death and resurrection of Jesus is the basis for being a new creation in Christ. When you are transformed, you will no longer live for yourself, but you will be compelled to live for Christ. As verse 15 says, “that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.” I remember a few years ago talking to a camper who had gone to Camp Westminster for the first time. Some of you have been there. And she said to me, “the counsellors just kept talking about Jesus' death and resurrection.” Well, that warmed my heart. Yes, there are other important matters of faith and practice, but at the heart of it all is the cross and resurrection. It's what makes us new creations in Christ. Now, you may be asking a very important question “How does that actually work? How does Jesus' death and resurrection actually make me a new creation in Christ.” Well, that is answered in next week's verses. Conclusion In summary, to be a new creation in Christ is to be transformed. It is to be changed, metamorphosed. Like from a prickly, bumpy, slimy caterpillar to a beautiful butterfly. May God change us from self-centered, outward-focused, and hard-hearted creatures of the world to God-fearing, Christ-centered, heart-focused new creations in Christ.

“2 Corinthians 5:10-17 | Deep Theology for Daily Living” from Lakeshore Baptist Church by Pastor David Green. Released: 2025. Genre: Preaching. The post 2 Corinthians 5:10-17 | Deep Theology for Daily Living appeared first on Lakeshore Baptist Church.

March 30, 2025 Welcome to New Day!  Today's KEY IDEA is: In a broken world filled with hurt, God has given us a ministry of reconciliation. Communication Card: https://www.newdaywi.com/communication-card Online Giving: https://www.continuetogive.com/718973/donation_prompt ONLINE Teaching Sunday | 10am | Facebook Live Website: www.newdaywi.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/newdaywi Facebook: www.facebook.com/newdaywi/

Take heart that you can be a new creation in Christ, but also take hold of the truth that you really are a new creation in Christ.  

Year C, Fourth Sunday in Lent

On today's Quick Start podcast: NEWS: Trump Backs Mike Waltz After Leak, NPR Admits Laptop Coverage Fail FOCUS STORY: Shahar Isaac's Plea for Hostages WATCH IT: https://youtu.be/gv9OHaQUvnY THE MAIN THING: Great American Family CEO Bill Abbott joins Billy Hallowell to talk about his bold vision to transform faith-based and family-friendly entertainment. TODAY'S VERSE: 2 Corinthians 5:7 SHOW LINKS JESUS AND THE PROPHECIES OF CHRISTMAS : https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jesus-and-the-prophecies-of-christmas/id1783607035 NEWSMAKERS POD: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/newsmakers/id1724061454 DC DEBRIEF POD: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/d-c-debrief/id1691121630 CBN News YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CBNnewsonline CBN News https://www2.cbn.com/news Faithwire https://www.faithwire.com

Have you ever felt the fear of stepping into the unknown when it comes to sharing your faith? We all have a story to tell, and our testimony of God's goodness can help someone begin their faith journey. In Compelled to Share, Pastor Jim Slosson teaches from 2 Corinthians as he challenges us to trust the Lord to help us overcome any fears we have about sharing the gospel. This week look for opportunities to share your testimony or listen to someone else's testimony so you can experience God's best for your life!

Have you ever felt the fear of stepping into the unknown when it comes to sharing your faith? We all have a story to tell, and our testimony of God's goodness can help someone begin their faith journey. In Compelled to Share, Pastor Jim Slosson teaches from 2 Corinthians as he challenges us to trust the Lord to help us overcome any fears we have about sharing the gospel. This week look for opportunities to share your testimony or listen to someone else's testimony so you can experience God's best for your life!

Genuine Love 04 || "Affection On Display" (2 Corinthians 5:10-21), by Todd Hostetter, March 23, 2025. Visit summitwestolive.org for more info about SUMMIT CHURCH in West Olive, MI.

Walking by Faith: Longing for Heaven and Living on Earth 2 Cor 5:1-10 Our sermon text is 2 Corinthians 5:1-10. You can find that on page 1147. The theme of suffering continues here in chapter 5. Last week, we were encouraged to not lose heart in our affliction. That is because of three things. (1) God is working his Gospel in us – he is renewing us day by day. (2) our suffering, though difficult, pales in comparison to the eternal weight of glory. And (3) God enables us to look to the eternal things in heaven, which we cannot see but are promised. The beginning of chapter 5, here is a continuation of point 3 from last week. God enables us to look to the things in eternity even though we cannot see them. And in these verses, we're given a picture of heaven and what it will be like to dwell there. These verses put meat on the bones, so to speak. They tell us what the future reality will be like in comparison to our present reality. So, as I read, listen for that comparison. Our present reality on earth compared with our future reality in heaven. Reading of 2 Corinthians 5:1-10 Prayer There's one medical statistic that has remained consistent for all of history… going all the way back to Adam and Eve. The percentage of this medical occurrence has not changed in that long. Thousands and thousands of years of human history. I'm talking about the mortality rate. It has remained at 100%. By the way, the word “mortality” literally means “subject to death.” 100% in the history of humanity. Now, I know what couple of you are thinking… “yeah but what about Enoch? God took him but he didn't experience death? Or what about Elijah? He was taken up to heaven on the whirlwind.” Ok, fine. But you get my point. Everyone in history minus 2 There is only one event that will change that. There is only one event that will end mortality. And that is when Christ returns. We don't know when that will happen. But when he returns, those who are alive will not experience death. Wouldn't that be great if it happened in our lifetime. At that time, the Scriptures say that Jesus will return as judge of the living and the dead. Verse 10 references Jesus' “judgment seat.” We'll come back to that later. But look at verse 1, do you see that word “if?” “For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed”   It's talking about our mortal bodies. That word “if” is the same word in the Greek for the word “when.” And here it is an “if or when.” It's an “if” for you if Christ returns before you experience death. It's a “when” if Christ returns after you pass from this life. In the meantime, all of us will experience the groaning of our bodies, as these verses describe. And possibly all of us will experience the pains of death as we pass from this life. And it's difficult. Our “groaning” is difficult to different degrees now and it will likely become more difficult. We don't want to struggle with sleep issues or weight issues or chronic issues or disease or mental heath issues… or the general wearing down of our bodies. No, we all have an internal longing to be whole. And what 2 Corinthians 5:1-10 reveals to us is that one day we will be whole. These verses reveal the amazing reality of what is to come. It helps us to live with the groaning now with confidence in the reality of what is to come for us in heaven. And it's a beautiful promise. As you heard, these verse constantly go back and forth between earth and heaven. Our current reality and our future promise. The pains of our current bodies, and being clothed in perfected ones. How in this life we are away from the Lord –we're not in his physical presence, but in the life to come, we will be with him forever. And the big question here is this: How do we live in adversity and long for eternity? How can we turn our groaning into longing? The answer centers on one thing. There's one thing that is critical. Really, it's the key to the answer. And it's right there in the middle of these verses. Verse 7. “We walk by faith and not by sight.” You see, the Bible gives us many promises. And we are called to believe in them by faith. Faith is the key to it all. It's the key to living on earth while longing for hope for heaven. Now, these verses do not give us a definition of faith. In fact, faith is only mentioned a few times in the whole book. But remember, Paul is writing to the church in Corinth. This is not the first letter he's written to them. No, it's actually the fourth letter. We don't have two of them. And also, don't forget, Paul planted the church in Corinth. He's also visited them. So, he is not defining the word “faith” because he knows that his readers understand its meaning. Now, for us, the word faith culturally has a shallow meaning. Mostly. People often use the word “faith” today in a generalized sense like a blind trust – a blind faith. Like, I'm not really sure about something, but I'm just going to go with it. You know, that kind of faith. But the word faith in the Greek and its use in the Scriptures is much deeper. Much richer. Its not a blind faith without reason… but a belief and trust in something because of the confidence in and reliance on what is believed. In fact, the same word “faith” in the Greek is sometimes translated “assurance” depending on the context. In other words, faith includes trusting in something because of real, rational, and true reasons. Let me take a moment and speak those of you here who are still evaluating Christianity. When you hear that Christianity requires faith, that's very true. At the heart of what it means to be a Christian is to have faith in Christ. It's faith in who he is as God and what he has done. But faith does not mean setting aside your mind or reason. No faith includes engaging your mind. ·       It's believing in God as he has revealed himself in creation all around you and in the Scriptures. ·       It's seeing how consistent and clear the Bible is and its validity. We have almost 6000 New Testament manuscripts going back to the second century and they are amazingly consistent. ·       Having faith also includes understanding your own heart. It's recognizing your need for honor instead of your shame, for forgiveness from your sin, and for redemption because of your debt to God. ·       Faith is believing that Jesus has overcome those things for you. ·       You see, faith is both a heart and mind belief. Now, for all of us, faith in Christ does include things that we cannot see. Absolutely. We cannot see heaven. We cannot see God. But that does not mean it's a blind faith. No, it's trusting in the riches which have been revealed to us. So, when verse 7 says, “we walk by faith and not by sight” it's saying that as we journey through life, we trust in the future promises that God has given us, because of all the things he has done for us. Ok, with that foundation of faith, let's look at two things. You'll see those on the notes page. First, Longing for heaven by faith. And second, living on earth by faith. So, longing for heaven while living on earth, by faith 1. Longing for heaven by faith Some people think that heaven will be like we are in the clouds, and we'll be floating around like angels. But that is not how the Bible describes heaven. When Christ returns, we will be given new bodies and there will be a new heavens and a new earth – a new creation that is not groaning. These verses give us a picture of some of that. Look at the contrast. Our earthly bodies are described as tents. Our heavenly bodies are buildings. One is flimsy and it doesn't take much to tear down. The other is firm and immoveable. In fact, the end of verse 1 says our heavenly dwelling will be “eternal in the heavens.” Indestructible. You ask, what will that be like? I'm not totally sure, but we are given a glimpse of that in Jesus' resurrected body. Ours will be like his in some way. When he appeared with his disciples, he ate with them. Thomas, his disciple, felt the scar on Jesus' side. There will be a physical nature to our bodies.  But they will be imperishable. Immortal. Look at the end of verse 4 – “we will be further clothed so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life.” No longer will our bodies be subject to death, but rather life forever. Let me put it this way, the mortality rate in heaven will be 0%. Death will be no more. So that is one promise here – resurrected imperishable bodies. Ok, there's a second future promise in these verses. Those in Christ are promised to be present with the Lord. Physically present with him. Verses 6 and 8 describe how in our bodies now, we are away from the Lord. To be sure, the apostle Paul is not talking about the spiritual presence of Christ. No, Jesus is spiritually present with us, now, through his Spirit by faith. But when our earthly bodies are destroyed, we will be with the resurrected Lord in heaven. In his presence. Let also me clarify something. These verses do not focus on the timing of when we'll be given eternal bodies. But these verses do tell us when we will be present with the Lord. We will be present with the Lord as soon as we are away from the tent of our earthly bodies. Think of the thief on the cross. Jesus said to him that “today” he would be with him in paradise. By the way, elsewhere in the New Testament, it's very clear that our heavenly dwelling, our resurrected bodies, will be given to us when Christ returns, in the future. Here's what I am saying. If you are a believer in Christ by faith, when you die, your soul will immediately be with the Lord. But in the future, when Jesus returns your soul will be united to a new resurrected body. When you pass from this life, it will be amazing to be in the Lord's full presence. But when Christ returns and you are found in him, it will be even more amazing. It's hard to even imagine being in the presence of the resurrected and ascended Jesus, with a new heavenly body like his. We can't see exactly what that will be like, but we walk by faith in that promise. Let me summarize point one like this. Turn your groanings into longings. Long to be present with the Lord. And long for that imperishable, eternal, immortal body that you are promised in Christ. 2. Living on earth by faith (5:5-10) Which brings us to #2. Living on earth by faith. 8 years ago, I took a paper lawn trash bag, which I had cut open. And I got out some old spray paint… And wrote in big letters, “Alaska or Bust.” I wanted to tape the sign to the back of our RV, but the kids thought that was weird. We then set off on a 7,000 mile journey. I wasn't sure if we would make it. At one point, we were driving toward the Canadian boarder, and all of a sudden the engine made a bad noise… and smoke started billowing everywhere behind us. My heart sank. I thought the engine just blew up. I thought Alaska or bust was a bust. Thankfully it was just a coolant line. Got that fixed and continued on. Made it into Canada, but then the next day, boom. Blew a tire. The next day, we almost lost another tire. Then the next day, black diesel smoke started pouring out of the tailpipe every time we tried to accelerate. We were in the middle of nowhere. By this time, I was quite sure we weren't going to make it. Isn't that how you feel while on the journey of life? Do you feel like your travel sign says “heaven or bust.” Do you think that there's a possibility you're not going to make it. Or that you'll lose your faith or that God will forget you? We lose hope, don't we? Do you know what your travel sign really says. It just says, “heaven!” there is no “or bust.” Look at verse 5. “He who has prepared this very thing is God, who has given us his Spirit as a guarantee.” God's promise is sure. There are no “maybes” about it. It is not a hollow hope. It is the sure hope founded on what God has accomplished in Christ - his death and resurrection. You see, God will accomplish his promise. If you have believed by faith in what Christ has done for you, God has given you his Spirit as a guarantee. Jesus, himself, reinforces this. In the Gospel of John chapter 6, he said, “I should lose nothing of all that he [the Father] has given me, but raise it up on the last day.” And he said, “For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” Jesus promised that he will raise you up. Let's go back to 2 Corinthians 5… Immediately after Paul reminds us of this guarantee, he writes, “So we are of good courage.” That is verse 6. Then he repeats the same phrase in verse 8. “Yes, we are of good courage.” Do you know when you need courage the most? In battles, in trials, in affliction and suffering. So, in this life here on earth, no matter what happens to you -blown tires, engine failures, accidents, you can live with courage and confidence because God will carry you to your destination. I'll never forget it. In the distance I could see something big on the side of the road. As we got closer, it turned out to be a big sign. Pretty soon we could read it. It said, “welcome to Alaska.” For this special occasion, I brought a big sharpie. I crossed out the word “bust” on our sign… and underlined the word “Alaska.” We made it. By the way, that sign hangs in our basement. Beloved in Christ, just cross out the phrase “or bust” right now in your imaginary travel sign. There's no chance that you will not arrive. No, you are assured of that. And you can live on earth now with confidence and courage. Ok, so that is one way you are called to live knowing of your future promise. Confidence and courage. There's also a second response here. Look at verse 9. It says, “So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.” In other words, whether we are on earth or in heaven, we aim to please God. Let me mention the obvious. If you are in heaven, away from the body, you will be pleasing the Lord. That's because you will be worshipping him for eternity. You will be so overwhelmed being in his presence that you will be giving him the glory forever. And you will be unable to sin, so everything you do in eternity will be pleasing to the Lord. But the other part of verse 9 is that we make it our aim to please the Lord now. Think of everything that the Lord has done for you. Just in these verses alone there are abundant reasons to please the Lord. He's promised to clothe you in a new heavenly dwelling. He's promised that you will be in his presence when you pass from this life. He's given you assurance. He's given you faith. Each one of those is reason enough to seek his pleasure. By the way, what does pleasing him mean? It means honoring him in your life. It means pursuing his commands. It means, loving your neighbor. It means participating in Jesus' Great Commission, like Paul was doing. Have you heard this description of some people. “They are so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good.”  That is why main point #2 is important. Yes, we should be heavenly minded, main point #1. But that should work its way out in our lives. Our courage, our ministry to others, our life… pleasing the Lord in those things. That phrase definitely does not describe the apostle Paul. No. He was both heavenly minded and earthly good. His faith in Christ gave him hope. Yes, he longed to be present with the Lord and clothed in Christ in his heavenly dwelling, but he also pressed on in ministry and courage and confidence… with an unending desire to please the Lord in this life. And that brings us to verse 10. It gives us yet another reason we should seek to please the Lord. It says, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” Now, it's tempting to misunderstand this verse. It is not saying that if you do good things, your reward will be heaven. This is not a verse that says we merit heaven through our good works. However, it is a reminder that Christ is the divine judge. Our lives will testify to our faith. As one commentator put it, “everyone who is mindful of their mortality must therefore be mindful of their morality.” That's a helpful way to think about it. And notice that it says “we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ.” Remember that there were some in Corinth leading the church astray. They were teaching a false Gospel and peddling God's Word, undermining it. They also must appear before Christ. And they will be gravely accountable for their evil works…  because their life and actions and false teaching demonstrate a lack of true faith in Christ. But let me also say, if you have faith in Christ for salvation, having repented of those things that do not please the Lord…God will reward you for your good works. Because your works are not your works but Christ's work in you. God will get the glory because we have sought to please him. And we will receive the great rewards of heaven. The point is that we should aim to please the Lord in this life. Why? Because he's given us assurance. He is the divine judge. And (back to verse 5), God is the one who will cloth us with an imperishable dwelling forever. Conclusion So may we live by faith here and now, with courage and confidence, pleasing him, and anticipating his coming judgment. May our groanings turn to longings because the mortality rate in heaven is exactly 0%.   And may the Lord give us faith in Christ or strengthen our faith in him on the journey. 

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